A remixer is neither a primary nor a featured artist
The remixer has their own dedicated field in distribution. They are neither a primary artist nor a featured artist – and mixing up these roles causes errors that block the release.
When distributing a remix, all the artists involved need to be assigned the correct roles. One of the mistakes we come across is trying to add the remixer as a featured artist or as an additional primary artist. That is not correct – and neither the form nor the platforms will allow it.
Why a remixer cannot be a primary or featured artist
The Primary artist is the artist under whose name the recording is released and on whose platform profile the recording “lands”. A Featured artist (guest artist) is a performer who contributes to the recording with their voice or an instrument as a guest – their name is displayed after “feat.”
A remixer is neither. They are a creator who made a new version from the original recording – and they have their own clearly defined role in distribution. The platforms' systems keep these roles strictly separate and do not allow one artist to be both the remixer and the primary or featured artist on the same recording.
Mixing up roles blocks the release
If you try to add the remixer as a featured or primary artist (or vice versa), the form will not save the recording – it will warn you that the remixer already appears on the recording in a different role. You enter the remixer yourself in the Remix section of the recording form: Tick that the recording is a remix, add the remixer's artist name and confirm that you hold all the rights to the remix.
Overview: Who goes where
| Role | Where it is filled in | How it is displayed on the platforms |
|---|---|---|
| Primary artist | Automatically from your account + the “Additional primary artist” section | As the main name of the release |
| Featured artist (guest artist) | Fields in the “Additional featuring artist” section | After “feat.” next to the track title |
| Remixer | Field in the “Remix” section | In the recording's credits |
Remember the difference between primary and featured?
If you are not sure when to add an additional primary artist and when to use a featured artist, read the clear comparison: The difference between a primary and a featured artist →